Short Summary

Poland is showing off its latest developments in aviation. A major aircraft exhibition has been?

Description

Poland is showing off its latest developments in aviation. A major aircraft exhibition has been mounted at Warsaw's International Airport, and it's reported to have aroused considerable international interest.

SYNOPSIS: Poland is a leading aircraft manufacturer. It's the world's second largest producer of agricultural planes and a major builder of gliders and helicopters. But most interest at the Warsaw display centred around the Iliushin-86 airbus ... the result of a joint project between Poland and Russia.

The airbus is built in the Soviet Union but many of its components, including the control surfaces, are manufactured in Poland. The big jet can carry 350 passengers and has a claimed cruising speed of 625 miles per hour (1000 KPH).

The co-operation on the building of the airbus has resulted in other projects for Polish manufacturers. They've now started production of the Soviet designed Antonov-28, a twin engined multi-purpose aircraft.

Poland has made significant advances in agricultural aviation. This is the M-15 the world's first agricultural jet. Again it's a joint project with the Russians.

Poland also shares a number of projects with the United States. The tiny M-20 passenger plane is made jointly with the American firm PIPER.

The Koliber 110 is the result of another international association; this time with the French firm Socato. The Koliber has only recently gone into production.